WCC Shifts Stance on Israel-Palestine Conflict

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has released a statement on Israel's occupation and the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. This stance reflects a significant shift within the organization.

As reported on the Oikoumene official website, this stance was articulated in a document following a meeting held from June 18-24 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The WCC is an interchurch organization that aims to foster unity among Christians worldwide. It is part of the ecumenical movement that calls on churches of various denominations to collaborate on social, spiritual, and joint mission endeavors.

In its statement, the WCC addressed the apartheid reality in Israel and called for an end to Israel's occupation and the lifting of the illegal blockade in Gaza. The WCC also urged countries and churches to impose consequences for violations of international law, including targeted sanctions, divestment, and an arms embargo.

According to a report by Mondoweiss, this statement marks a sharp change in the WCC's response to the crisis experienced by the Palestinian people over several decades.

On its website, the WCC describes its work as "Inspiring the worldwide fellowship of churches to work together for unity, justice and peace."

Palestinian residents and their allies argue that in the past, when it came to the suffering in Palestine, the WCC consistently chose the path of unity over justice. It is not just the WCC; many churches and ecumenical organizations worldwide have been cautious in addressing this "issue"-both to maintain "peace" within their congregations and to avoid offending their Jewish counterparts and risking accusations of anti-Semitism.

The shift in the WCC's stance has been largely influenced by Kairos Palestine (KP), the broadest nonviolent ecumenical Christian movement in Palestine, and its partner, Global Kairos for Justice, an international coalition of allies. Along with other Christian leaders, they have advocated for years for the WCC to issue a clear and honest acknowledgment of the roots and reality of Palestinians' suffering and a call for justice.

In a press release, Kairos Palestine welcomed the WCC's statement with appreciation and hope. They see the WCC's action as a "turning point in the moral and theological witness of the global church."

"We commend the WCC for declaring, clearly and courageously, that the term ‘apartheid’ is appropriate and prophetic in describing the situation imposed on the Palestinian people," said Kairos Palestine in a written statement.

"This step acknowledges the reality that Palestinians have endured for over seven decades: systematic oppression, displacement, segregation, and denial of basic human rights."

Rifat Kassis, the General Coordinator of Kairos Palestine, affirmed that the church must speak with one voice in opposing occupation, apartheid, and genocide. "Anything less is complicity, and silence now is a betrayal of both justice and faith," he stated.

Kassis believes this moment presents an important opportunity for more denominations to stand in bold solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Kassis called for a campaign led by the WCC to end the war in Gaza and the West Bank. He also supported the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in holding perpetrators accountable under international law.

"The time has come for moral clarity," Kassis said. "Churches must speak with one voice in opposing occupation, apartheid, and genocide. Anything less is complicity, and silence now is a betrayal of both justice and faith."

In this regard, Michel Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem, one of the authors of the Kairos Palestine document, and a member of the Kairos Palestine Council, expressed his gratitude to the WCC for their courage in acknowledging the truth about the situation in Palestine.

For your information, the WCC convenes in a plenary session every seven years. During the interim period, the Central Committee (CC) speaks on behalf of 352 member churches, representing over half a billion Christians worldwide collectively.

Editor's Choice: UN Rapporteur Accuses Israel of Preventing Palestinian Births as Part of Genocide

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

Israeli Troops Told to Fire on Gaza Aid Seekers, Haaretz Reports

1 jam lalu

UN Rapporteur Accuses Israel of Preventing Palestinian Births as Part of Genocide

4 jam lalu

Prabowo and Anwar Issue Joint Statement on Iran-Israel Conflict

4 jam lalu

Russia Says Nuclear Cooperation with Iran Is Legitimate and Will Continue

23 jam lalu

WHO Delivers First Medical Aid to Gaza Since March

23 jam lalu

German, Canada Call on Iran to Continue Cooperation with IAEA on Nuclear Programs

1 hari lalu

Israel Sought to Kill Iran's Top Leader Khamenei, Says Defense Minister

1 hari lalu

Middle East Conflict: How Iran-Israel Tensions Are Reshaping Tourism

1 hari lalu

Why Isn't the UN Resolving the Aid Crisis in Gaza?

1 hari lalu

War Can Erupt Anytime, Indonesian Military Commander Warns

1 hari lalu